Not only does the immediate resuming of the use of an injured limb, when treated in this way, appear not to be injurious, but the ultimate recovery seems actually hastened. After a day or so it is well to remove the plaster splint first applied and put on another, as the former has by this time usually ceased to fit the injured joint--owing to the diminution in the swelling. The splint may be changed three, four, or even five times, if deemed necessary, though two or three applications generally amply suffice. _This or some other splint should be kept on the injured joint for at least a month or six weeks, as otherwise complete recovery frequently fails to occur, with the permanent weakening of the joint as a consequence._ Of course it is always desirable to have a physician apply the splints for a sprain where this is feasible, but with a little care it may be done by any intelligent person who will observe closely the directions given. The plaster should be put on moderately tight, but the utmost care must be exercised in not carrying this to an extreme, as in such cases serious results might ensue. In order that it may be determined as to whether or not the splint is too tight, it is advisable to watch the patient's toes for some hours after the plaster is put on, and should they be found to be very cold, and particularly should they begin to show a dusky discoloration, it is evidence that the strips are exerting too much pressure, and they should be at once removed. Under such circumstances, in a half an hour or so, the splint could be reapplied with safety. The mole-skin plaster, which is used in making the splint just referred to, may be obtained in rolls of any width from all druggists; and as the plaster keeps practically indefinitely, it should be in the medicine-closet of everyone living at a distance from skilled medical aid. After a sprained ankle the patient should wear shoes that come well up above the injured joint, and they should be laced tightly until some time after all symptoms of trouble have disappeared; it would be on the safe side to wear shoes of this kind from six months to a year, depending upon the severity of the injury.